Dragon Magic

“There weren’t always dragons in this valley,” YaYa said softly, “and now we must find a way to prevent them from being extinguished. The older woman was small and yet still very agile. She slipped through the small stand of trees following the sounds and the cry of pain from the great beast that the men had shot down. Her pain was immense pain, a feeling that she shared with YaYa and even with the young girl trailing behind.

There was blood everywhere, a huge pool of dark crimson poured from the arrow that had pierced her heart. Her labored breath was shallow now as the end was near. The light from the setting sun danced in rainbows of color off the greenish blue scales, A huge gaping wound in one crooked wing told of the fight the beast had to maintain her course to this small meadow, she had been attacked by the huge spear launching devices the hunters had created just for killing dragons. The beast turned her huge golden eyes to Grandmother and her young granddaughter, she was a beautiful creature Ash-Leigh decided, a long smooth snout and large nostrils that now trickled a crimson flow of blood. A great sadness mixed with intense pain filled those gentle eyes.

“Why, gran?” the younger girl asked her voice betraying the horror of what she had just witnessed. Her mind unable to set aside the desperate cry of the dying dragon she had linked with. “Why do they want to kill them? The dragons are not an enemy, they don’t go looking to hurt anyone, why do they do this?” She winced visibly from the mental connection that YaYa knew her granddaughter had to the dying beast, this was good, very good, Ash needed this connection, though she didn’t know it now.

“They hope to sell parts of the dragon to the Warlocks and other workers of dark magic. We are going to see that it does not happen.” She dodged another briar bush and peered out into the meadow where the huge dragon lay. “I am here Al-inya, I am here.” She turned to her granddaughter, “I need to draw on your energy, I will need your grandfather’s strength also. Call out to him.” She then walked straight towards the dragon and began tossing handfuls of some yarrow flower powder at the great beast as she circled it slowly. “Add the Cedar and Acacia powder.” She called to Ash-leigh.

Chanting along with her grandmother Ash focused on her grandfather’s spirit. YaYa called softly as she opened the jewel encrusted crystal box shaped like a heart. “I am ready she said to the mighty beast. The dragon blew once and the powders caught fire as the beautiful emerald dragon breathed her last, her body shuddered and caught fire as the powders lit up in a blaze of blue and gold flame. For several minutes the whole night sky lit up. Ash and YaYa chanted louder, and the smoke spiraled and the forming within was a dazzling display of light which lifted out and disappeared into the crystal box. In moments the dragon was reduced to ash and soot and the hunters would reap no profit tonight.

Quickly YaYa closed the lid on the crystal box, she then slipped it into the satchel she carried. “You will keep it then Gran?” Ash-leigh asked tentatively, not sure on her grandmother’s plan.

Smiling softly YaYa patted her hand. “Until the time is right yes, this is the first one I have been able to get to in time to save her spirit.”

Ash frowned now, “I thought only people had spirits Gran.” She said in complete consternation, having stopped walking in confusion. Her grandmother smiled at her.

“Do not confuse spirits with souls, child.” YaYa said still smiling. “There are many kinds of spirits, but the soul is the gift from the Creator placed withing the human body at conception. You have good and bad spirits, dragon, spirits, demons are spirits and only the wise and omnipotent Creator god cand keep up with them all. What you do in life you do in a spirit of some sort. Good things are done in the spirit of love, kindness and the guidance of the Holy Spirit should you choose to follow Him.” They began to walk again.

“Well, if the Creator is omnipotent and omnipresent then why do bad things happen should He not rush to protect His creation?” Ash was confused now, she kicked at a small pile of acorns along the edge of the path. “Should He not had saved the dragon if they are good in spirit?” Ash-Leigh was still distraught over the loss of the beautiful beast. “You saved her spirit, but you didn’t save her body, how come.” YaYa could see the girl was near in tears now.

Taking both of her granddaughter’s hands, YaYa spoke softly. “The part we play is to have faith, it is not to know everything. We cannot know the mind of the Creator; He will do what is best for us and most often we never know the reasons for it. Sometimes we do, but always we must trust He is doing the right thing and never be afraid to ask or to thank Him for things. He will keep track of all the things you do and in what spirit you do them and if you have given your heart to Him, then when your time here is over, He will collect your soul and take it home. Those that feed an evil spirit will reap a very different reward. One must choose who to serve and how to serve.”

Ash nodded she knew these things to be true, it was just so hard to accept them when no reason can be seen for the bad things that happen to the good at heart.

*****

It had been five years since that adventure and YaYa had been gone two years. She would never blame the dragon for her declining health, but it had begun shortly after that night. Ash had been tempted many times to open the crystal box but had remembered YaYa’s words of warning, “You will know when it is time. You will go up the Sable Mountain to the cliffs of onyx, there you will meet the guide that will take you to the valley gorge, that is where the dragon’s nest. You and the guide will meet with great resistance in getting there, but the future generations of dragon’s depend on your success.”

Just the night before Ash had a dream and YaYa and Grandfather Jasper were both there with her. She was told to fill all the pouches in the satchel YaYa had left with her and to place the crystal box inside. The guide would be waiting, and he would ask if she carried the heart of the dragon, by this she would know he was the one. Ash packed lightly, bringing only two extra silk shirts, an extra pair of doe-skin breeches and her knee-high moccasins. She carried one cloak and several personal daggers, along with her reed pipes.

Ash had wrapped the crystal box in rabbit skins and bound it with leather strapping for the journey. The hike to Caper Springs was uneventful, forgoing hunting and thus making a campfire Ash chose roots as berries for her meals. After three days Ash camped next to the springs. She stood contemplating her past and wondering what her future held. “YaYa I do not understand why you are not the one to make this journey.” She remembered with a vivid reality the death of the dragon; she had shared the agony of her last minutes of life. Ash fingered the crystal box and wondered at the meaning it held.

She looked up, tomorrow she would climb the narrow trail to the path that would take her to the Onyx Cliffs. She felt a presence, but it was not a comfortable feeling and she shivered also fingering her throwing blade tucked in her belt. “You in the shadows show yourself.” Ash said firmly, no trace of fear in her voice. A man approached he was tall and slender, dressed in black leathers and had dark hair and eyes. The hat he wore cast a shadow on his face he wore a short-cropped beard.

“I am a guide, and I am here to lead you.” He spoke softly, but his voice raked across Ash causing an unwelcome feeling. “Do you carry the spirit of the dragon?” These were the wrong words, not what YaYa had told her he was to say, also these were not the Onyx Cliffs, so he had knowledge of her journey but not the specifics. She suspected he was a Warlock come to try stealing the crystal box and thus the spirit of the dragon.

“You have the wrong person,” Ash said with no emotion, she drew herself up to her full five ten height, tall for a woman. Ash felt YaYa within and stood her ground. Unable to help herself Ash slipped her left hand into the satchel and touched the wrappings around the crystal box, they were warm, and an invisible barrier went up between her and the stranger, he had been approaching but stepped back as if pushed by an unseen force. Ash realized there were great and powerful forces at work now.

The stranger stepped forward again and was once more pushed back, he staggered this time. Cursing he melted into the shadows. Ash stood still until she no longer felt his presence near her. She sucked in a deep breath and thanked the Creator for His protection. Tossing her long auburn braid over her shoulder, Ash looked up. The moon was nearly full and there was plenty of light, she grabbed her carry sack and settled her satchel and looked sadly at her unlit fire. She had been looking forward to catching some fish for dinner, but not with the risk she felt now.

The trail was steep, but easily navigated, it led to the las two canyons in the great valley Ash-Leigh called home. Bastien Valley was the largest valley at the foot of the great Crystal Mountain that often spit fire and smoke. It was home to many dragons now. They had fled the other valleys after being hunted by the dark side of mankind. Now this valley was threatened. Three more dragons had been killed since the one, Al-ynia, that Ash had witnessed die, the one whose spirit she carried. Each of those dragons had managed to incinerate before the men could harvest their bodies. The Warlocks were restless, and the witches were angry. One single dragon could replenish the magic stores in their wicked lairs where they sought to cause havoc and rule over mankind. Without the dragon’s parts their magic was weak and other sources just as hard to find.

Werewolves avoided them like a plague and the Pegasus’ were too elusive. Wild wolves and the occasional Elf caught did not afford much. Ash wondered at the cruelty that the realm of Witchcraft exuded. They held no compassion and cared little for any but themselves and each trying to be the greatest. She made her way up the mountain trail. It was bathed in a soft white light and the shiny gravel reflected the light making it glow softly. As she neared the top, she sensed a presence, but it was different than the one she had previously encountered. A large hand reached out to help her over the many stones that lined the path above. She took it and eased over the rocks. Suddenly she found herself staring into large expressive eyes, impossible to tell the true color in the moonlight, but they sparkled with life and warmth.

“My name is Jamison, and I am your guide. I did not expect you until morning.” His rich soft voice floated over her, and she knew her instincts were correct, he was trustworthy. She stood and faced him and realized there was much to him to face. He stood a head taller than she did and had broad shoulders, had she not known better she thought I would have mistaken him for a gladiator. He scoffed at her thoughts, and she studied him.

“You hear me in my thinking, like the dragon did?” She asked somewhat alarmed. He nodded taking in the tall strongly built girl in front of him, he guessed her hair to be a deep auburn and her eyes some shade of green, but the light of the moon could deceive.

“Yes, I do, but not all thoughts only those left easily on the surface.” He said with a slight smile. He gestured to her to join him. It was then Ash noticed the campfire inside the small cave. “I have rabbit stew if you are hungry.” Her eyes told him she was near famished, but she only nodded. “I must ask, just to be sure” he said then almost as an afterthought. “Did you bring the heart of the dragon?” She finally smiled and nodded. They settled in for the rest of the night and Jamison explained the path they would take to reach the nests.